The Venice International Film Festival named a Chinese movie, “People Mountain People Sea” (人山人海), from director Cai Shangjun (蔡尚君), as this year’s “surprise film.”

Each year at Venice, the title of one film is kept secret until just before its screening. Last year, the festival selected Chinese director Wang Bing’s (王兵) “The Ditch.” The addition brings to 23 the number of films competing for the festival’s top prize, the Golden Lion.

Speculation had been rife for weeks that this year’s surprise film would again be from China. In 2006, celebrated Chinese director Jia Zhangke’s film “Still Life” (三峡好人) was selected, and it went on to win the Golden Lion.

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Festival director Marco Müller, a Mandarin speaker, is known for his love and knowledge of Chinese cinema.

“People Mountain People Sea” is based on a true story about Lao Tie, a man searching for his brother’s murderer and seeking justice on his own when the authorities’ responses prove inadequate.

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